Wrench.



A. VAGAREZZA.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 1914.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

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ANDREW VACABEZZA, OF VINELAND, NEW QTEESEY.

WRENCH.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

Application filed June 22, 1914. Serial No. 846,492.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW VACAREZZA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vineland, in the county of Cumberland and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrenches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in wrenches, and more particularly to an improved nut engaging attachment for ratchet wrenches, the object of the invention being to provide an improved construction of nut engaging attachment which can be quickly manipulated to fit any ordinary size of nut, and which will be strong and durable to withstand the strains to which it is necessarily subjected.

A further object is to provide a nut engaging attachment comprising a supporting member having two movable jaws with independent screws for each jaw, so located as to permit both screws to be simultaneously operated by the thumb and forefinger so as to quickly adjust the jaws to fit the size of nut.

ii further object is to provide an improved construction of support having an improved mounting for two sliding jaws, whereby each jaw is securely held against movement in any direction except longitir dinally.

V ith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view with a part of the wrench handle broken away to illustrate the arrangement of ratchet pawls which permit the wrench to ratchet in either direction or be locked against ratchet movement in either direction. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the attachment removed showing the shank portion of the attachment partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a view in section on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the jaws.

1 represents a ratchet wrench with which my improved nut engaging attachment 2 is especially adapted for use. The wrench 1 has a circular head 3 at one end and a handle 4 at its other end. In the head 3, a rotary member 5 is located, and this rotary mem her is provided with an angular centra opening to receive the shank 6 of my at taclnnent 2. This shank 6 is provided with openings 7 for the reception of a locking pin (not shown) to securely hold the shank in the rotary member of the wrench. This rotary member has, on its outer face, a circular rack S which is engaged by two pawls 9 pressed into operative position by springs 10.

Pivoted bails 11 are provided on the handle -l: and may be moved into position to hold either of the pawls out of operation. As these pawls are reversely positioned, one of them will permit the device to ratchet in one direction and the other in the opposite direction. lVhen both are in engagement with the rotary member, the latter will be held against independent movement in either direction, hence by means of these pawls, the operator is permitted a wide ran e of variation in the use of the device.

ll/ly improved nut engaging attachment 2 comprises a support for two sliding jaws 12 and 13. These jaws are constructed precisely alike, but are oppositely positioned. Each jaw is fixed to, or made integral with a bar 14, and these bars 11 are located in parallelism upon a base 15. It will be noted that the jaws 12 and 13 extend laterally beyond the bars l-Zl, so that they present opposing surfaces for engagement with the nut. Each bar 1 1 is provided at its inner edge with a groove 16 to receive a flange 17 on a guide rail 18 integral with the base 15. The outer edge of each bar 14: is provided with a flange 19 engaging in a groove 20 in the outwardly projecting walls 22 at the side edges of the attachment, so that the bar 14 is securely held against lateral movement, but permitted a free longitudinal movement. To further strengthen this connection between the jaws and the base, each jaw is provided at opposite sides with lugs 23 which move in longitudinal grooves 2a in the walls 22, so that the jaws are provided with parallel guides at one side, and a single guide at their other side, hence insuring a strong connection of the parts.

The outer edge of each bar 14: is provided with a longitudinal rack 25, and these racks are engaged by screws 26 supported on pins 27 positioned longitudinally in the walls 22. These walls 22 are shaped as shown clearly in Fig. 1 to permit the pins 27 to be readily .moved into or out of position. It will be noted, particularly by reference to Fig. 1, that the screws 26 are at opposite sides of the attachment, and this is a distinct advantage because the operator can position his thumb against one screw, and his forefinger against the other screw, and by moving the screws simultaneously can quickly adjust the jaws 12 and 13 toward and away from each other by a single movement of his hand. As both jaws are movable, the adjustment can be quickly made, and when once made, the screws will securely hold the jaws and permit them to rigidly engage the nut.

While I have shown the jaws 12 and bars 14 as separate parts brazed or otherwise secured together, it is to be understood that these parts may be made integral or otherwise formed, and various other slight changes might be resorted to Without departing from my invention. Hence, I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A nut engaging attachment, compris ing a support, said support comprising a base and a shank, said base having walls at its sides and having a longitudinal guide rail between the walls, two movable jaws, bars fixed to the jaws, said bars having grooves at their inner edges engaging the guide rail and having flanges at their outer edges movably mounted in grooves in the said wall, and jaw moving means engaging the bars, substantially as described.

2. A nut engaging attachment, comprising a support, said support comprising a base and a shank, said base having walls at its sides and having a longitudinal guide rail between the walls, two movable jaws, bars fixed to the jaws, said bars having grooves at their inner edges engaging the guide rail and having flanges at their outer edges movably mounted in grooves in the said wall, said bars having racks at their outer edges, and screws supported in the walls and engaging the racks, substantially as described.

3. A nut engaging attachment, comprising a support, said support comprising a base and a shank, said base having walls at its sides and having a longitudinal guide rail between the walls, two movable jaws, bars fixed to the jaws, said bars having grooves at their inner edges engaging the guide rail and having flanges at their outer edges movably mounted in grooves in the said wall, jaw moving means engaging the bars, said walls on their inner faces having longitudinal grooves, and 'said jaws at their opposite sides having lugs movable in said last-mentioned grooves, substantially as described.

4. A nut engaging attachment, comprising a support, said support comprising a base and a shank, said base having walls at its sides and having a longitudinal guide rail between the walls, two movable jaws, bars fixed to the jaws, said bars having grooves at their inner edges engaging the guide rail and having flanges at their outer edges movably mounted in grooves in the said wall, said bars having racks at their outer edges, screws supported in the walls and engaging the racks, said walls on their inner faces having longitudinal grooves, and said jaws at their opposite sides having lugs movable in said last-mentioned grooves, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANDREW VAGAREZZA.

Witnesses CHAs. E. Po'r'rs, M. E. DITTUS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

